CULVER CITY, Calif., February 5, 2013 – Sony Pictures Entertainment has entered into a two-year exclusive first-look agreement with producer Michael Costigan and his company COTA Films, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of Production for the studio. The deal reunites Costigan with Sony Pictures, where he previously served as a production executive.

Commenting on the announcement, Belgrad and Minghella said, "We couldn't be more excited to be back in business with Michael. He has a great eye for material, strong director and talent relationships and has been making interesting, original movies during his years with Scott Free. Of course he remains a great friend and we're thrilled to be professionally reunited."

Costigan most recently produced Stoker, Park Chan Wook's English language debut starring Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode, and The East, starring Brit Marling, Ellen Page and Alexander Skarsgard, and directed by Spirit Award nominee Zal Batmanglij. Both films premiered last week at Sundance to rave critical reviews and will be released later this spring.

For release this fall, Costigan produced Out of the Furnace, directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) and starring Christian Bale, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson

Costigan served as President of Ridley and Tony Scott's Scott Free Productions from 2005 until 2012. Under the Scott Free banner, Costigan executive produced Prometheus, The Counselor, Robin Hood, Body of Lies, and American Gangster, directed by Ridley Scott, and produced Mark and Jay Duplass' Cyrus and Welcome to the Rileys.

Joining Costigan is Ben Leclair, who most recently produced the critically acclaimed Upstream Color, directed by Shane Carruth, which premiered at Sundance. He previously worked as VP, Production for Mike White at Ripcord, where he was a producer of Year of the Dog and oversaw Jared Hess' Gentlemen Broncos. He started his career at Scott Rudin Productions.

Costigan started his career at Sony Pictures, where he spent nine years. As Executive Vice President of Production, he acquired and developed films including Charlie's Angels, Gattaca, The People Versus Larry Flynt, Girl Interrupted and Bottle Rocket.

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